Alonzo l



INVENTOR MW.

ATTORNEYS A. L. BRUMPIELD.

' SIGN.

Patented Oct. 11, 1892.

(No Model.)

AAAAAAAAA WITNESSES:

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALONZO L. BRUMFIELD, OFPATERSON, NEW JERSEY.

SIGN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 484,174, dated October 11, 1892.

Application filed February 8, 1892 Serial No. 420,645. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, ALONZO L. BRUMFIELD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Paterson, county of Passaic, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Illuminating-Signs; andIdo hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to makeand use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The object of this invention is to provide an illuminating-sign simple and durable in construction, brilliant in effect, and also to provide simple means'for changing said illuminating-sign into a day-sign.

The invention consists in the improved illuminating-sign having a series of variouscolored glass strips or tubes revolving therein and the combination and arrangement of the various parts thereof, substantially as will be hereinafter more fully described, and finally embodied in the clauses of the claim.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each of the several views, Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved illuminating-sign, part of the sign-plate being broken away. Fig.2 is a top plan view thereof, the top or .cover being removed; and Fig.3 represents one of the revolving tubes, which I term prismatic tubes.

In said drawings, a represents a box or case with removable top I) and side walls a c c 0.. These side walls are preferably made of glass with the sign or lettering in blank and the spaces between and around said lettering being blackened, the words being thus formed of blank letters on an opaque ground. Within the box a is arranged an endless chain or belt (1, to which is secured in any desired manner a series of narrow glass strips m m or tubes 02 n of various colors or designs. Said chain engages tooth-wheels e e, secured to shaft f f which latter are adapted to revolve in bearings of any shape or construction. To shaft f is also secured a driving-wheel g, which can be operated either by a belt h, extending through the side wall a and connected to the driving-pulley of a motor, or directly by clockwork. If necessary, an intermediate wheel e can be arranged between the tooth-wheels e c to prevent the endless chain from sagging, and also to reduce the strain on the said wheels. At or near the center of the box and within the chamber formed by said glass strips or tubes are arranged burners or lights 2' 2', adapted to throw their light through said strips ortubes against the blank spaces of the sign-plates c 0, whereby when the belt is revolving a brilliant changeable effect is produced on said spaces. To increase said effect, I use plain-glass tubes n n, which are filled with small broken pieces of various-colored glass or with small prisms, whereby the light passing through said tubes is broken and reflected on the said blank spaces.

A sign of the above description will make an excellent night-sign, but would not show very plainly in day-time, as the interior of the box is dark during the dayand the blank letters are consequently hardly distinguish able from the black or opaque ground. To overcome this objection, I arrange outside of the endless chain carrying the strips and tubes and as near as possible to the sign-plates c c curtains or shades 0 0 of white gilt or any desired color, which when opened serve as a background for the letters, and thus renders a clear and distinct exposure of the same.

I have shown in the drawings the endless glass strips or tube-belt arranged vertically and the curtain or shade horizontally, aswill be manifest. Said belt could be arranged to revolve horizontally and in place of the curtain, I could insert behind the sign-plate aplain or colored board or plate.

I do not intend to limit myself to the construction shown and described, as various changes can be made without changing the scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. An illuminating-sign consisting of a box, opaque sign-plates secured thereto and having blank letter-spaces, a series of prismatic tubes adapted to be revolved between said sign-plates, and means for revolving said series of tubes, substantially as set forth.

2. An illuminating-sign consisting of a box,

opaque sign-plates secured thereto and pro= vided with blank letter-spaces, a series of transparent tubes adapted to be revolved between sign-plates, pieces of glass of various colors placed in said tubes, and means for revolving said tubes.

3. An illuminating-sign consisting of a box, opaque sign-plates secured thereto and provided with blank letter-spaces, a transparent background arranged between 'sign plates, means for revolving said background, and a movable opaque background arranged between the transparent background and the sign-plates.

4. An illuminating-sign consisting of a box, opaque sign-plates secured thereto and pro- 

